Matteosalvinimi/X
An Italian plane explodes into a fireball after takeoff from Turin, Italy, on September 16.
CNN –
A jet from the Italian Air Force’s aerobatic team crashed during a practice run near the northern city of Turin on Saturday, killing a five-year-old child and leaving her nine-year-old brother with severe burns when the car they were in was struck by burning debris hit by a huge fireball.
According to the Italian fire department, the MB-339 jet exploded shortly after takeoff around midday local time, officials said.
The fire department said the pilot, who survived, was seen ejecting with the parachute opening just before the jet hit the ground.
Officials added that he is currently being treated for burns at the Giovanni Bosco Hospital in Turin.
The Frecce Tricolori aerobatic aircraft, part of the Italian Air Force, practiced a formation ahead of the Italian Air Force’s 100th anniversary celebrations, scheduled to take place on Sunday. The planes had just taken off from Turin’s Caselle airport when one of the jets began losing altitude, as seen in several videos shared on social media.
The crash occurred within the airport premises.
The airport tweeted that it was temporarily closed.
Matteo Secci/AP
The debris of a burned car was left behind as firefighters cordoned off the area where a plane belonging to the Italian aerobatic team Frecce Tricolori crashed during a practice run outside the northern city of Turin on September 16.
According to CNN affiliate Sky24, Italian media reported that the jets hit a flock of birds shortly after takeoff.
According to local media reports, the car containing the five-year-old child and his family was traveling on a country road parallel to the airport.
Her brother survived and is now being treated for severe burns at the Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital in Turin, the hospital confirmed.
Her parents also reportedly suffered burns.
The Italian Air Force said it was “shocked and astonished” by the plane crash, according to a statement from Italian Air Force Chief of Staff and Air Wing General Luca Goretti.
The Pony 4 aircraft, piloted by Maj. Oscar Del Do’, lost altitude shortly after the formation took off and fell to the ground, the statement said.
The Italian Air Force has not confirmed the exact cause of the accident, but suspects that a bird strike occurred during the first stages of takeoff.